running

I've written about my relationship with running on this blog before. As I looked to log back in to this account I realized I haven't written in a while. At least not for anyone to read. I couldn't help but wonder if the funk I find myself in with my running is related to the fact that I haven't really written or emptied out my mind on to paper or onto my little space on the internet.

As I do with a lot of life's issues, I turn to the all mighty oracle (Google). I started searching for others in a funk with running. Now I don't mean those folks that refuse to run because it's bad for your knees or because hate it. I mean those folks that love running but at times can fall into a rut and it becomes a chore instead of the freeing amaze-ball experience it is/should be.

All roads lead to getting some fresh eyes on my situation and that meant working with a coach. I follow a lot of runners on various social media accounts. Only a select few deem a follow on every platform though and lo and behold as accomplished as this specific runner is (5 x Boston marathoner), they were also working with a coach. So I was in and why not the same coach they're working with. I of course quickly reached out. Half thinking I wouldn't get any response.

Fast forward a week. A phone conversation and quite a few back and forth via email and text as well as on running apps. I'm done with week 1. Clocking in 26.5 miles. Not a lot of mileage over what I've been running but with new purposeful running and even enjoying the day off instead of beating myself up all day about taking a day off at all.

Any thoughts on what else I can do to keep this going? w/ running or this blog?

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A year is a long time. I could probably pick out how many things surprise me daily, everyday is surprising if you really pay attention. As I racked my brain though, for a moment that really surprised me I kept coming up with moments where I lost my “cool” and couldn’t really hold in my emotions. I won’t go into much detail as there are too many for this particular post. Some regarding my children, even some long forgotten arguments with the curly one. Still none really made me feel the way remembering a very SURPRISINGLY emotional moment I felt so far from home.

I’d been running for about 12 miles. Now yes, that’s a lot of miles but it wasn’t the distance that got the best of me. Despite the less than stellar build up I had adjusted the pace to simply complete the race and take it all in. After all I didn’t travel to the other side of the country to fail. Yet it hit me like a ton of bricks. Talk about surprise. I read the first name and along with it a picture of two beautiful children smiling on what I can only guess is their Daddy’s lap. Then another picture and another. All different ranks, and along with the names the date they bid this world good bye. I had read about the “blue mile” but nothing prepared me for the overwhelming emotion I felt. I thought of my two beautiful children and how lucky I am that they don’t have to for now live in a world with out their dad or mom.

Then like a 1-2 punch after all the names and pictures a sectioned lined completely by those “gold star” families. So yes, those left behind to suffer and endure the pain that War leaves in it’s wake. I had stopped to walk during the names. I wanted to make sure and read as many as I could. The moment after I high fived a couple of the kids I knew I couldn’t help but cry and so as they cheered for me and all the other runners I had to run. As is the case when sad about war I feel guilty for being home. Especially when I’m not where I’d like to be in life just yet.

So I ran, probably faster than I should have but then again it always feels that way in the last 10K of a marathon. I reached “the bridge”, the point of no return in the Marine Corps Marathon. It means I had to finish. Right before crossing the finish line I found my son, who my wife had made sure was there to see Daddy. I hugged and kissed him and my wife took a picture of my smiling next to Daddy.

I finally crossed the finish line, a newly minted Lieutenant placed the beautiful Eagle Globe & Anchor. It was just as sweet as the first time I earned mine. I hobbled with the rest of the runners over to the Marine Corps Memorial and I couldn’t have been prouder to be a Marine. It was not lost on me that I was extremely lucky to be walking towards my family.

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As previously mentioned after a few years of only running. i decided the benefits of Crossfit far outweighed the cost.

I’m sure you’re used to reading either rave reviews or rampant hate towards the WODS that have now become almost a daily ritual. The one negative I’d been able to see right away was that on days that I had a WOD I was really hesitant to pound the pavement as had been my normal.

For a few weeks that was OK and I thought that as long as I was moving that was enough. I’m not sure that will be enough for me as my mileage builds in my Marathon training.

Today I had 11 miles scheduled for the AM. In the evening I scheduled 2 WODS (for a great cause, not just because I’m a glutton for pain). Decided the frosting on top of the work out cupcake was a 5K row. (I’ve never rowed more than 500 meters.

The run went well. I’m not sure it was wise to make it the first hilly run of the season but it was done. I cut it short by 1/2 a mile though. (no need to over do it before 8 AM). First WOD was a wake up call for what kind of evening I was in for. 2 rounds for time of 800 meter run, 30 dumbell squat cleans, & 30 burpees. Since I had run I figured I’d row 800 meters as a warm up for my 5K. After the first 800 I knew the 5K was going to be tougher than I imagined.

I decided to jump on the rower for the 5K right away and off I went. I zoned out for the first 2.5K and then just thought I’d speed up to bring it home. So it’s official my first ever 5K row was 21:18. I hear not bad for my first. What I did take away from it was that I can go hard after a WOD. I can also WOD hard after a long run so I can definitely get some short runs in with out killing myself for my WOD. Even if I don’t double up, I’m sure a WOD 5 times a week no longer seems an unattainable goal.

So I’m no a runner that Crossfits. Or a Crossfiter that runs. I’m someone that knows no matter what I do I have to go big.

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i hadn’t been at the movies since i took a solo trip to the theater for “Wolf of Wallstreet”. i’m not sure how i managed to stay away for this long but I’m glad that dry spell is over. i think it was a good movie to break the rut too. “300: Rise of an Empire”. It won’t be winning any awards but it’s OK sometimes you just want to see some stuff blow up and bad assery at it’s finest.

i think it’s because at one point i was on the receiving end of one of those motivating speeches before going into battle that i can really appreciate those moments regardless of how cheesy it seems out of context of any real fear or danger for the audience.

obviously my battle was different and i was wearing just a tad bit more clothing but as any other warrior can tell you it’s not the size of your war that matters. the feeling just before it is what will forever stay with me. I guess it’s the overwhelming amount of time you hover in fight or flight mode that really does a number on how anything else will ever be experienced in our lives.

which brought me back to real life. i’ve expressed how my build up wears me down and i start seeing marathon in everything. well this movie really did a number on me. the first battle is actually the battle of marathon. the entire narrative of the movie is taking us towards Athens like that first marathon did so very long ago.

well that’s my two cents. i enjoyed the movie because i can check out when i walk through the door, if you’re already a fan then you will dig it. it’s not a pre-qual or a se-qual it’s more of a parallel story to the one of Leonidas and his 300.

i think i was sicker than i first thought when I woke up. I wrote 3 different checks today and by the end of the night I realized i wrote them all out for 3/6/13.

yup well into the 3rd month of the year and i’m still in 2013. 2 out of the 3 didn’t notice and apparently those deposits are on to the next step and now it’s to my bank. i’m crossing my fingers that no one else notices.

the 3rd party wants me to come by and either initial the original check or bring by new check with correct date. i felt pretty dumb about the whole thing, but as I searched the net to make sure it wasn’t as bad as I thought I realized plenty of people have and even farther into the year than i had done.

I need some more rest but as i sit here remember the words form a wiser soul: i have about 52 more hours to be sick. then I’ll rock it out on Sunday morning.

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it’s my 5th consecutive LA Marathon and 6th marathon over all. you’d think i’d have this under control by now. but noooo my nerves are still causing havok on my day. it’s taper week and without fail, i now feel like i’m fighting off a cold or something. if history is repeats itself i’ll be just fine on race day and after a mile or two i’ll settle into a nice race pace and the rest is as “easy” as a marathon can be.

yet it’s crazy to be dealing with this and now having to wait. truthfully I wish the race was tomorrow and that i can get it over with. & that’s what I hate. the day off I end up enjoying every bit of pain and the highs and lows are equally gratifying. yet leading up to it I’m a mess. anyone else have dreams or other panic inducing issues before race day?

ultimately I do believe that this week should be a restful one and that I should trust that the last 4 1/2 months of running will do the trick. I just have to trust that i’ve already done all that is needed and that stressing about it this week will only negatively affect my race. so i’m going to try and focus on day by day. tomorrow i have work so keeping busy does help. both Thursday & Friday I have only 1 mile planned. On the schedule it’s a ‘rest’ day but of course I’m still on my #runstreak and it will be day 99 and 100 respectively.

my plans for Saturday are still up in the air. i’m really torn about running on Friday logging 100 consecutive days of running and then resting on Saturday before the race or extend it right through my Sunday run and possibly ending at 102 (race day) I’m also through two months of running and completing the 365 days of running seems attainable. will i want to break it then? should i break it now so it’s not a huge deal?

i read an article today about a teenager who decided she would sue her parents. i have to admit that there is not a lot of information just yet. still the internet has taken it and ran away with it.

from “news” agency to news agency the descriptor of her has changed. one did identify her as an honor student but later on in the day she was identified as a cheerleader. why not mention the lacrosse team she was also a part of.

yes i’m sure there is some truth to the fact that she is a bit entitled and well moving in with a best friend who’s father is an attorney doesn’t hurt. (anyone but her parents). just like other parents fight to still have their kids on their insurance and as overall dependents until after college. why shouldn’t the same rules apply to her if she doesn’t want to be “emancipated”.

she is definitely used to a certain lifestyle and that is of there doing so regardless why should the “pay”. let us not forget the fact that their income is taken into account when determining her financial aid eligibility. so why not use those funds if the simple truth that they exist messes her up.

I made the claim on FB that things are fairly similar to a divorce where the wife, up until that point, was OK with financial arrangements but now that we talk about rules or other stipulations, the relationship is not as fun so they made an exit. In all honesty I really hope she wins and if it does start a trend I’m sorry. yet I’m confident that if my children sue me I deserve it because i raised some damn brats.